# Groundswell

> Swell made by distant storms that has travelled a long way across the ocean.

**What "groundswell" means in surfing:** Swell made by distant storms that has travelled a long way across the ocean. Groundswell has a long period and arrives as powerful, well-spaced waves.

**Category:** Conditions

## Related words

- [Windswell](https://surfslang.com/windswell): Swell made by wind close to the coast.
- [Set](https://surfslang.com/set): A group of bigger waves that arrive together, with quieter periods between them.
- [Pumping](https://surfslang.com/pumping): A strong swell is running and the waves are big, powerful and consistent.

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Source: [Groundswell](https://surfslang.com/groundswell) on Surfslang.com, the surf slang glossary. Full glossary: https://surfslang.com/llms.txt